Portable barbecue grill



A. KAHN PORTABLE BARBECUE GRILL Dec. 2, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FiledMarch 7, 1950 R. m N H 4 K N E L L A ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1952 A. KAHNPORTABLE BARBECUE GRILL 2 Si-IEETS--SHEET 2 Filed March 7, 1950INVENTOR. ALLEN: KAH/V WM Q ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED ESPATENT OFF ICE PORTABLE BARBECUE GRILL Allen -Kahn, Belmont, Calif. vApplicationMarehti, 1950, Serial No'. 148,183

- 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved. cooking apparatus. Morespecifically, it relates .to a portableunit which may beiusedas'a.ch-arcoal broiler.

Some obje'ctsfof the invention are to provide a portable cooking unitthat. can betused as a charcoal broiler or barbecue; .to. provide aunitin which food may be cookedeitherdirectly over time or coals or at one!side'thereof and which can quickly be converted .from onetype ofcooking' to the other; andto provide an improved fire basket fromWhichthe charcQaIorcdals cannot "escape. "'Other objects and advantages. Qofthe invention will appear from 'theiifollowing description.

'The'inventionincludes ai fire basket that rests on a' standard and hasone :or morecarrying handles. Thefire basket is so mounted on. thestandard that it canbelshifted witheasebetween ahorizontal position anda-vertical one. 'When the fire basket is horizontal, food may be cookedontop of the basket, directly over. the fire or coals. When the fire"basketlis verticall thefood maybe cooked with radiantheat at "eitherside ofit. The'han'dles are made so that they may beswungoutbeyond"thesides. "Whenthe fire basketis vertical"andthehandlesare out over the sides grill baskets maybe suspended fromthe handles atany desireddistance'" from the flame or coals. When the fire "basket inits" horizontal position, one ofthe handles may also" be used as "anadditionalsupport or steady member for the fire basket.

A specific unit is illustrated in -thedrawings and willnowbe-describedindetail. However; I donot intend to limit the inventionto-the'specific features described because they are illustrative and aregiven in compliance-with U. S.- Revised Statutes, section 4888. Thescope of-the invention is defined in the appendedclaims.

I In the drawings:

Fig. l is a View in perspective ofa cooking unit that embodies theprinciplesof the-i-nvent-ion, shown in its vertical carrying position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe unit shown in its horizontal cookingposition, but with-the cover removed;

. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the" fire-basket cover, with thehandles spread apart;

Fig. 4.is a view in end elevation and insection of the unit, shown inits horizontalcooking position and with the cover in place;

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation offthe .unit, shown in itsverticalvcooking positionywiththe handlesspread was to support two grillbaskets, one on each side of the fire basket;

Fig. 6 is a" viewin'sectiontaken alongthe line 6-6 in'Figi 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 'l-'i"in Fig.1 and showing oneofthe sockets in-whichthe handles are mounted;

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective'of a grill basket suitable for useWith-the invention and Fig. 9* is a perspective view ofthggrill basketof Fig. 8', shown initsjopened-ptisition.

FigxlO is an enlarged'view of one of thdoeking discs and its associatedpins.

' The illustrated cooking unit includes a fire basket "ID that rests ona standard H and" may be'carried'by apair of handles] 2.

The standards include two triangular shaped legs i5 (see Figs. 1; 2, ramfay-which I prefer to-make'from metal rods bentinto shape. The-base isof each triangular shaped legrests on the ground, andarod l'l-*joinsthettvo-bases -16 together. Although the standard I l -is' light inweight; it is very stable.

- Adisc 20=is secured adjacent to the apex lii of each leg unit l5,and-it-has a central vertic'ally elongated opening 2| through it whichserves" as a bearing for the pivot pin 40' in the end bit the firebasket+|0. Each disc 20 also has anot'ch 22 in its top-"edge whichserves tolockf the fire basket l0 in the desired position. -(See- Fig.*10.)

The fire basket I6 is preferably shaped likea box with one open side--251 wherethe fuel can be put in and i which can then be closed; by thecover 50to1ockthe fuel in. --(See Figs? 1% 2; 4, 5, and 6.) 'The twoscreen-grills 3t and-3| c'om prise the parallel' cooking surfaees bf thebox. The grills are metal-screens and' may be made of expanded metal,perforated-metal" platesj-or any other suitable material. Thebther threesides 32, 33, and 34,- their inturnerf flanges-" 35, and therims 36across the' top of the open side 25 complete 1 the box andsupport #thescreens' 30 and 3|. The rims '36 have outturnedfiangesf 37 thatihelpguidefithe' cover 5U intoplaceand hold it-there.

The. two support onipivot lpins Hal-rare secured to. the side ors'endc'walls ;32.-';and :3411'11. 'aboutithe center of these walls,preferablyisomewhat nearer the' bottom of the" basket tm rthanli-itsi.top.a(see Fig. 6). The pins 40 rotate ifreelyirrinitherbearing openings2| and may; slide along: int-.Lthe elongated slots which each'of .themiprovi'de.

Theloc'king device which holdscthe fire basket H) .inposition 1011 thestandards, eompriseszthree lock pins 4|, 42 8.1'1'dF43;Ga/CI'IiOfWhlGhZiS adapted to fit in the notch -22, :accordingato 'theposition'of thecfirezbasket l0. -W'henthe'basket i liris vertical, thepin 4| engages the notch 22. When on tightly.

the pin 42 or 43' is locked in the notch 22, depending which screen 30or 3I is facing up. The pins can be unlocked from the notch 22 bylifting the basket since the pivot pins 40 fit loosely in the verticallyelongated bearings 2I; then the basket I can be swung around until thedesired pin locks in the notch 22. (See Fig. 10.)

The flanges 31 help position the cover 50, and two locking member 45 and46 hold the cover 56 in place. The member 45 is an L-shaped anchor stripsecured to the side wall 32 (see Fig. 2). The member 45 is a spring clipheld by the side wall 34; the member 46 is turned in like the anchorstrip 65, but is bent back at 41 to provide a handle 48 for opening thebox H).

The cover 50 is a flat piece of metal with two side flanges that fitover the flanges 31. One end of the cover 55 fits under the anchor strip45, and the other end fits under the spring clip the basket ishorizontal,

46. When the cover 50 is being put on or taken off, the clip 46 ispulled back by pulling on its handle 48 and holding it out until thecover 50 is down. Then the clip 45 is released and it springs back intoposition, holding the cover 30 (See Fig-s. 1 and 2.)

The handles I2 are mounted pivotally in brackets 52 secured to the cover50. (See Fig. 3 and Fig. 6.) The brackets have inwardly slopingupstanding flanges 53 which are perforated at 54 to receive the handlesI2. Each flange 53 has two vertical grooves 55 so that when the handlesI2 are upright (Figs. 1 and 7), they will lock in the grooves. When theyare swung out to the side (Figs. 3, 4 and 5), they are secured by theinwardly sloping angle of the flanges 53 (see Fig. 6) There is enoughresiliency in the handles I2 to permit movement between these twopositions.

Food may be cooked directly over the basket IIl, using either screen 30or 31 as a grill. (See Fig. 2 and Fig. 4.) However, many people preferto radiant cook the food at one side of the fire basket Ill. This can bedone by arranging the basket II) as shown in Fig. 5.

The basket I0 is vertical, and the two handles [2 are spread out and aresecured there by the flange 53. Then the grill frames 60 may besuspended from the handles I2 at any desired distance from the firebasket Ii].

Grill frames fill suitable for use with the cooking unit are shown inFigs. 8 and 9. They include two gridirons GI and 62, pivoted together attheir lower end by a pair of rings 63. One gridiron BI is flat; theother one 52 has an inturned portion 54 at its lower end which serves tospace the gridirons apart at that end.

The gridirons are further secured together by a pair of releasablelocking rings 65 which slide oneach of the side rods 66 of one gridironBI. When the two gridirons 50 and El are swung together with the meatinside (see Fig. 8), the locking rings 65 may be slid along the rods I56to the upper end of the gridiron 6|, slipped over the side rods 61 ofthe gridiron 62 and slid down both outer rods 66 and 61 until the grillframe 60 holds the meat tightly. In this way the grill frames 60 may beused to hold steaks of many different thicknesses.

The gridiron BI also includes a wire bracket '65 adapted to fit over thehandle I2 on the cooker. The bracket 68 can be slid along the handleI2.to any desired location, depending on how close to the fire the meatshould be put.

The grill frame 50 also has its own handle Ill. The wer-ends II ofthehandle Ill are looped around the bracket 68, preferably in indentationsor grooves 12 so that the handle III in one place. The handle I0 can,however, be pivoted around the bracket 68 and thus kept away from theheat. (See Fig. 5.)

The cooking unit is light in weight and con-- venient to carry. As Fig.1 show it is carried with the cover 59 on and with the handles I2upright, locked in the grooves 55 in the flange 53.

To load the basket with fuel for cooking the cover 50 is first removedfrom the box If! by pulling out on the spring clip handle 48 until thecover can be lifted off. After fuel has been put in the fire basket It),the cover 50 may :be replaced.

If the cooking is to be done with the basket upright the handles 52 maybe swung out to the side, where they will be secured by the inturnedflange 53. Then the grill frames 50 may be suspended from the handles I2by their brackets 58, and the handles I0 swung out away from the flame.

If the cooking is to be done with the basket flat, it is lifted by thehandles I2 to remove the lock pin 4I from the notch 22. The basket I0 isthen swung in either direction until pin 42 or 43 falls into the notch22. When the fire basket Ill is in the horizontal position, the lowerhandle I2 may be swung down to give additional support to the firebasket, but this is not usually necessary. The cooking can be done overeither grill screen 30 or 3| or it may be started over one and shiftedto the other if a different temperature is desired.

The cooking unit comprising this invention is safe to use and easy tocarry about. Before setting out on a picnic, the fuel can be put in thebasket and locked in by the cover 50. This avoids a messy job at thepicnic spot and also means that no charcoal blocks will be spilled orlost on the way. When the fuel is being consumed it is inside the closedbasket and cannot be spilled out or burn people or property if thebasket should accidentally tumble from a table or support. Furthermore,with the fuel enclosed within the basket, and with the basket mounted asshown, the user can vary the type of cooking operation at any timewithout danger and can shift the basket to either of its three possiblecooking positions. A poker or stick is enough to use to lift the basket,thereby lifting the locking pin out of the slot, and to shift the basketto the new position desired. At the end of the cooking operation, if allthe fuel is not consumed, it can be extinguished without loss or delayand without the risk of starting a brush fire, simply by lowering thebasket into water in a pool or other receptacle. By the time the nextfire is to be made the fuel will probably have had time to dry out andit can be used.

While I have shown the handles I2 secured to the removable top 55, it isobvious that the handles could be secured as well to the opposite end 33and then what is called here the top 50 would become a removable bottom.This reversal of elements would not change the advantages or the basicoperation of the device.

Another change which might be made without sacrificing all theadvantages of the device would be to omit the locking pins 42 and 43 anduse one of the handles I2 to support the basket in either of its flatcooking positions. (See Fig. 4.)

I claim:

1. A portable cook unit, including in combination, a standard, a firebasket pivotally mounted will be fixed on said standard, and cooperativelocking means on said basket and said standard for holding said basketin either a vertical or horizontal position, said locking meanscomprising a plate on said standard having a vertically elongatedcentral bearing and a peripheral notch at its upper end, and a pivot pinon each end of said basket which fits in said bearing, and locking pinson each end of said basket spaced from said pivot pin so that they cansuccessively engage in said peripheral notch when said pivot pin islowered in said bearing and can be disengaged therefrom when said pivotpin is raised in said bearing.

2. In a portable barbecue cooking unit, the combination of a fuelcontainer comprising a basket having two rectangular perforated cookingsurfaces on its opposite sides, secured together by two relativelynarrow end members and a bottom member, and having a removable coverclosing the open end thereof; a support for said fuel containercomprising a frame having vertical end members, each with a bearingplate having a vertically elongated bearing near its upper end, and anotch in the periphery of said plate; a pivot means secured in the endmembers of said container, and locking pins spaced around said pivotmeans, one of which is engageable in said notch when said basket is inany of its operating positions.

3. The device of claim 2 in which handles are secured to said basket toswing on axis parallel to said pivot means.

ALLEN KAI-IN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

